Archive for the ‘dog training’ Category

While this may seem obvious to many, some dog owners expect the dogs to just become more well trained with age. Through training classes, your dog becomes a pleasure rather than a pain. The guests who previously avoided your house because of your poorly trained dogs will now enjoy visiting. And while some people think training only puts stricter rules on your dog, your dog actually has more freedom because he knows how to behave himself!

2) A trained dog is welcome in more places.

Especially during summer and fall, dog owners consistently become disappointed with how much they have to leave their dog. Wouldn’t it be great if your dog was well behaved enough to come to your kid’s soccer game with you or even join along on the fun of camping for a weekend? Better yet, wouldn’t it be great to be able to have your dog stay in a hotel room with you? Training classes are the answer to these types of issues. Start including your dog in more family activities rather than just thinking of him as another hassle to have to come home to let outside.

3) It can be fun for all involved!

Admittedly, some weeks I feel like we laugh more during class than actually train, but I’m sure that can’t be the case because all the dogs go home looking so good after our five or six weeks together. However, training truly can be fun for the entire family. You are allowed to bring your kids to class and sometimes depending on the situation other dogs from home, and the best part of all is that you’re all learning some important techniques to transfer over to real life situations once you leave.

Listed below is our fall group class schedule, but as always, if you are more interested in doing private training, feel free to contact me personally at scott@beyondtheleash.com. You can check out my website to find out more information about my history and training style and feel free to check out Jess as well at her website. We hope to have the opportunity to train with many of you this fall.

Decoy Ian Gresh, of Cape Cod, takes a bite from one canine during an exercise at the Patriot Ring Club trial on Aug. 7 and Aug. 8.

North Shore Dog Training Blog – Competitors of various levels from all over the Northeast attacked, bit, and leaped around a course in Boxford for the first Patriot Ring Club French Ring Trial in Boxford, MA on Aug. 7 and Aug. 8.

And their owners had fun, too.

Credited with helping to expand the sport in New England, the French Ring Trial, sponsored by Scott Williams and Beyond the Leash, featured a range of competitors from the beginners to the highly skilled. However, competitors all showed their dedication to canines and the protection sport that tests a dogs instinct to bite, their ability leap and climb, and their overall obedience.

And dog trainer Scott Dunmore, who recently began practicing French Ring with his Malinois Vollie, said that obedience is always hard to maintain when your dog is excited about the attack.

“That’s the biggest challenge – control is the issue,” said Dunmore. “It’s definitely one thing to have control in your backyard, but it’s much harder during a trial.”

However, French Ring requires both the dog and the owner to be at the top of their game. The wrong command or just saying a command too many times will be of detriment to your team. Too much praise for you canine won’t help either.

PA resident Rick Rutt took his dog up to Boxford to compete in the French Ring trial. Rutt is also the president of the newly formed American Ring Sport Federation, a US organization governing French Ring that began in 2009.

Rutt said the ARF matches the strict set of rules and requirements that can be seen among trials in France, where the sport began. He said that the Patriot Ring Club trial was well-rounded showing of talent.

“I think there’s a good mix,” said Rutt about the range of ability in the competitors during the two-day trial.

Rutt said there is a clear sense of unity in French Ring when you can see that the dogs and owners enjoy themselves no matter how skilled they are.

“The thing that makes this sport great is when you have people that are doing it for fun and people that are experts,” said Rutt. “Everybody’s there for the sport and the dogs.”

Once a canine competitor passes a temperament test required to enter a trial, the dog can compete through three different “Rings” or levels of exercises.

The protection sport features significant biting exercises and therefore requires the use of decoys, or men in protective suits that can take a dog bite.

Decoy Ian Gresh, of Cape Cod, began working as a decoy for French Ring just six months ago. Gresh said there are many attributes that make a decoy effective – some more obvious than others.

“I guess you have to have a high pain tolerance,” Gresh said as he cooled off in the shade following a run with the last canine competing.

But he said that decoys must be in good physical shape. He said dogs can be running at speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour when attacking and you must know how to move in order to avoid injury.

North Shore Dog Training Blog – People like a variety of breeds for a variety of different reasons. Many people feel that their dog is “the cutest” and that their breed has all the best characteristics. Well, some of them are right.

Here are the top five dog breeds in the Boston area for 2009. As a side note, the Yorkshire terrier was kicked off Boston’s list since 2007 and the bulldog took its place with some other shifting involved (see the 2007 list below).

1.Labrador Retriever – “The Labrador Retriever is medium in size, strong, athletic, and well balanced. They are friendly, outgoing, and possess an extremely sweet personality. There are two types of Labrador: The American, which is tall and lanky, and the English, which is more thick and heavy. This sporting breed is adept at hunting and retrieving. Labrador Retrievers are revered as companions and highly respected for their loving nature.

This breed is highly intelligent, loyal, and deeply devoted. The Labrador Retriever is reliable, affectionate, and thrive on human companionship and attention. They are absolutely wonderful with children and get along exceedingly well with other dogs. They may be reserved with strangers and make good watchdogs. If this breed is left alone for extended periods of time without attention or stimulation they will become lonely, bored, and destructive.”

2. German Shepherd Dog– “The German Shepherd is a breed of classic beauty and possesses superior intelligence. They are highly adaptable, energetic, curious, strong, and dependable. This breed displays a magnificent appearance and is extremely agile with great stamina and endurance.

A member of the herding group, the German Shepherd is fearless, bold, hard working, and alert. They are esteemed for their loyalty, deep devotion, and courage. This breed thrives on human interaction from their family and does not like to be left alone for extended periods of time. German Shepherds are exceptionally wary of strangers. They will most generally get along with other household pets they have been raised with. This breed will attempt to perform the task of herding on anything and everything that moves. The German Shepherd is not recommended for the novice, apathetic, or sedentary owner.”

“The Bulldog is moderate in size, heavy, and built low to the ground. They are strong, kind, amiable, and courageous. This breed is not vicious or aggressive and is quite dignified. They possess a passive demeanor and have a quirky sense of humor.

This breed is loyal, exceedingly affectionate, and deeply devoted to their family. The Bulldog is dependable, gentle, and does well in a home with children. They will get along with other pets they have been raised with but may be rude and try to bully strange dogs. They thrive on human attention and are dependent upon it for their happiness and well-being. The Bulldog has excellent guarding abilities but will only bark when absolutely necessary. This breed is very possessive of food and should never be fed in the presence of children or pets.”

“Boxers are lively, strong, and extremely loyal. They have an exceedingly high energy level. They carry themselves with pride, but are never arrogant. They have a stoic stance, and are intelligent, loving, delightful companions.

The Boxer is patient, dignified, and self-assured. They exhibit curiosity, but are wary of strangers. This breed is fearless and courageous if threatened. They are keenly alert and have a heightened sense of hearing, which make them excellent guard dogs. The Boxer adores children and other pets they have been raised with. They have an inordinate need for human companionship and do not like to be alone for extended periods of time. They are not well suited for a two career family. Insufficient attention may lead them into “bad” behavior in an attempt to be noticed.”

“The Golden Retriever is a gorgeous, large, and energetic breed. They are the world’s foremost family pet and companion. They are sturdy, well proportioned, and are well known for their hunting capabilities on land and in the water. The Golden is perceptive and agile.
Golden Retrievers are loveable, polite, and highly intelligent. They exude charm and confidence. They are sweet, eager to please, and devoted family companions. They do not do well if left alone for extended periods of time or they will become mischievous and destructive. They have a tendency to be overly exuberant and distractible. They are always gentle and patient with children. They are friendly with other pets. In fact, they are friendly with everyone. They tend to bark as a form of greeting. The Golden Retriever is not well suited for a two career family as they require an inordinate amount of human interaction and companionship.”

I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT DOG TRAINING…..WHO KNEW? I had the opportunity to go to Clicker Expo this year in Los Angeles. I thought I knew about clicker training before this past weekend but after attending the Clicker Expo I realized I knew very little. The event was created and hosted primarily by Karen Pryor’s Company Clickertraining.com. A quick Google search of her name will bring up books, tapes and training products on clicker training. Her company has recently started a clicker training academy where one can obtain a certification using this process of interacting with animals. I attended this event with the hope of learning something new about dog training, how dogs learn and how maybe I could accomplish my training goals with less conflict. I was not disappointed. The staff of instructors/lecturers were highly skilled and for the most part highly educated. I attended a couple of lectures and a “lab” with Ken Ramirez. (Ken Ramirez, vice president of animal collections and training at Chicago’s world-famous Shedd Aquarium, develops and supervises animal care programs, staff training and development, and public presentation programs for the marine mammal collection. He oversees animal training for all animals in the aquarium, including fish, sharks, and reptiles. He joined Shedd Aquarium in 1989.

A 30-year veteran of marine mammal care and training, Ken worked for nine years at Marineworld of Texas. He also coordinated marine mammal care programs at Ocean Safari in South Padre Island, Texas, and has acted as a consultant or coordinator for many marine mammal programs throughout the world. He began his training career working with guide dogs for the visually impaired and has maintained a close connection to dog training throughout his career. Currently, Ken has a new pet training television series in development.

Ken has been active in several professional organizations, including the International Marine Animal Trainer’

s Association (IMATA), of which he is a past president, and the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, where he has served on the board of directors since 1987. He also has served on the board of the American Cetacean Society.

In addition to his other work, Ken has written for several scientific publications, including Marine Mammals: Public Display and Research, and Soundings, published quarterly by IMATA. He teaches a graduate course on animal training at Western Illinois University and authored the book ANIMAL TRAINING: Successful Animal Management Through Positive Reinforcement, published in 1999. The book has become required reading for many animal trainers in the zoological field.)

Ken is a great teacher, trainer and author. His lecture on secondary reinforcers was really impressive. I began creating multiple reinforcers as soon as I got back to training on Monday.

Since I enjoy competitive obedience trials I am always interested in getting the highest possible reliability with the least amount of conflict and (here’s the catch) with no training collars, leashes or other types of devices that are attached to the dog during competition. I think that what Karen Pryors organization is offering is a means toward that end. That’s not to say that I’m a clicker training fanatic but I see great value in teaching a dog how to actively participate in the learning process. Am I ready to give up my choke chains, prong collars, shock collars and devote my life to Clicker Training? No, not yet. But I would be very willing to take a six week old puppy and create a positive foundation that would last a lifetime using a Clicker and treats. I would also be very willing to continue on with the Clicker throughout that pups life to continue teaching and reinforcing behaviors. That being said, when I’m at the park with my dog, and if he bolts after a squirrel that is running toward the street and into traffic, I’ll be relieved to see him turn on a dime and come back to me because he was wearing an electric collar. If my dog and I lived in a bubble like, for example oh I don’t know maybe a Dolphin in a tank, I’d be more inclined to take that leap into Clicker Utopia. Dogs will be dogs and I just love mine too much to take that chance.

To conclude I think that all dog trainers should learn the principles behind Clicker training but I believe in a more balanced approach. My clients come to Beyond The Leash for results. They are not looking for Competition level obedience but they are also not looking for something warm and fuzzy that takes a long time with low reliability. We all would love to be able to train our dogs with no verbal corrections let alone physical corrections. Ideals exist only in the imagination, perfection is never obtained. We must treat our dogs with dignity, respect and fairness. Give them plenty of exercise and love and don’t correct them out of shear frustration. They don’t know why the hell your jumping up and down making a lot of noise. If you need a trainer find one with experience and compassion. Find a dog trainer that really likes dogs! I was surprised to find and still am surprised when I meet trainers that obviously don’t like dogs. Sometimes many years of experience means old school methods and just plain career burn out…….

Getting a new puppy or adopting an older dog is a wonderful thing and can be a very rewarding experience. However, being a dog trainer with young kids in the house, I have found that the excitement of a puppy tends to wear thin after only a few short weeks. Then the duties of raising a puppy or caring for an older dog can become a chore. Compound these newfound responsibilities with destructive behavior and potty training problems and there’s big trouble in Paradise. People will surrender their fresh sod, lawn lighting, Bar-B-Q covers, hoses, Roses and pool toys to a crazy lovable Lab. But when the couch has already been replaced, the chair legs are nawed down to stumps and every room smells like urine they start looking for a new home for their four-legged friend. I have found that the most tolerant of people typically will give up a puppy after about a year of dealing with these problems. The easiest way to avoid these problems is with proper management and obedience training. For me, “proper management” means know where your pup/dog is at all times. ensure that they are safe and unable to get into trouble at all times. I try to achieve this by using a crate or a puppy pen in the house and teaching the “Place” command early on. I would also add that the outdoor area where your dog can play or lie around must be secure to keep him from running into the street and MUST provide shelter from the elements and fresh water. The business of managing your dog is a lifetime commitment. Dogs don’t move out when they grow up but if you teach them well, you will be glad that they don’t. The management of your dog will loosen up as he begins to mature and handle more responsibility. First he will have limited freedom in one small area and when he does well there the area will eventually increase to the entire house if that is your desire. Remember that dogs are domesticated animals and have been bred to live with us not against us. I hope this short video gives you an idea as to what I mean by “Place”. It is a great way for dogs to be a part of the family and learn to have some self control. Oh, if you have a mouthy puppy give’em something like a peanut butter filled Kong toy to chew on while they hang out on their bed. If you need some help just give me a call at: 866-957-DOGS (3647) you can also get a lot of free info on my site. Visit us at: http://WWW.BEYONDTHELEASH.COM Thanks for taking the time time to visit my blog. this was my first post!